Improvement in boxes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN s. LAsH, Oli-PHILADELPHIA, rENNsYLvANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,663, dated December 16, 1873; application iled May 26, 1873.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN S. LAsH, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part-of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the device embodyin g my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a top view thereof. Fig. 4E is an inside View of the strip of which the body of the box is constructed. Fig. 5 is a top view of a portion thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists of a box whose body is constructed of a continuous piece of material, scored at intervals to constitute the angles or corners of the body, and having the ends fitted to each other by such a lockingjoint that nails, screws, or other fastenings, arenot required.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body of the box, which is constructed of a strip, B, of wood, and scored or grooved, as at C, at intervals, so that when the ends of the strip are brought together the strip bends at the scores or grooves, which thus constitute the angles or corners of the body of the box. The inner face of the lower portion of the strip B is longitudinally grooved, as at D, somewhat of the form of an acute angle,for the 'recep tion of the edges of the bottom E of the box, which edges are beveled inwardly, and, with the groove D, form the joint D. (Shown in Fig. 2.)

The ends of the body are connected by dovetail joints F, as follows: A wedge-shaped tongue, G, on the side of the body, engages with a corresponding groove, H, on the end piece thereof and forms the joints a b c. This so locks the ends of the strip of which the box is constructed that disengagement in the direction of arrows l and 2 is entirely prevented. Tongues J on the side piece of the body engage with groove K on the end piece thereof, and form the joint d c f, which is of such a nature that there can be no disengagement of the ends in the direction of arrow 3.

Thus, the ends of the strip being prevented against longitudinal, transverse, and outer movements, as illustrated by arrows l, 2, and 3, Lit is apparent that said ends, and consequently 7 the body, of the box are rmly connected.

The bottom of the box is previously ttcd in the groove D in the strip B, and the latter bent or formed around said bottom, after which the two parts of the dovetail joint are connected, and the box is then completed, after which the lid may be attached and the finishing operations be performed.

The wood will be properly steamed, in order to permit of the bending of the same, and thereby the application of the tongues to and in the grooves.

It will be seen that there are Ano nails, screws, glue, or other fastenings for confining or holding the parts of the box.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The box constructed of the body A, formed of a continuous piece of material, scored at intervals, and having its ends locked by the double dovetail joint F, in connection with the let-in bottom E, so as to dispense with nails, screws, glue, or other fastenings for the body, as set forth.

The above signed by me this lst day of May, 1873.

JOHN S. LASH. Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDEEsHEIM, MILLARD F. WALTON. 

